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Global food security, climate protection and resource efficiency through research and innovation
Climate change is reducing the surface area available for agricultural use. As a consequence, the productivity of initial agricultural production needs to be increased. With its "Plants" innovation area, the High-Tech Strategy is making an important contribution to this with the help of research and innovation.
Global food security through research and innovation
As a result of population increases, changes in eating habits, and climate change in combination with the limited amount of space available for agricultural use, the supply of food and fodder is increasingly becoming a global challenge. As a result, significant productivity increases are necessary in initial agricultural production, the food industry, and even the food trade. With its "Plants" innovation area, the High-Tech Strategy is making an important contribution to securing our food supply with the help of research and innovation. In addition, the mounting conflict between biomass for food production and for bioenergy production needs to be addressed. In cooperation with the Länder and the BMELV, the BMBF has launched the competition "Competence networks in agricultural and nutrition research" in order to pool the strengths of Germany's best agricultural research institutions. The aim is to build up an excellent, internationally competitive infrastructure in the area of agricultural research and to accelerate the transition from research results to practical applications.The competence networks should focus on the entire agricultural value chain, from initial production of natural resources to the provision of high-quality raw materials such as biomass, animal feed and food for consumers. In the area of plant biotechnology, all available technological solutions for plant production and use are being examined and improved with the help of genome research, systems biology and biological security research. In this context, a public dialogue about the chances opened up by modern biotechnology is being carried out. These opportunities include yield increases and the necessary adaptation of agricultural crops to climate change.
With this innovation support programme, the BMELV is promoting new technologies and procedures in the agricultural and food industries, but also new methods for the improvement of consumer protection. Some examples of solutions for sustainability increases and resource-saving productivity increases are wireless communication systems for farm machines, weed recognition for the targeted use of pesticides and fertilizers, and breeding research for crop plants and farm animals.
Modern biorefinery for climate protection and resource efficiency
A modern biorefinery research centre is to be built in Leuna in Saxony-Anhalt. The research centre will use all parts of different plants - particularly those that are not needed in the food chain - for the production of chemical products, fuels, electricity and heat. This will open up new pathways for climate protection and resource efficiency. The BMBF wants to establish the biorefinery research centre for the industrial use of biomass in cooperation with the Land government of Saxony-Anhalt, the BMELV and the BMU with a total investment volume of €50 million. Plant biomass currently makes up about 10 per cent of resources used in the chemical industry. Approximately 90 per cent of raw materials for the chemical industry come from fossil raw materials (crude oil and natural gas). The use of biomass can make a significant contribution to independence from fossil raw materials and energy sources. Another aim of building the biorefinery is to cushion potential utilization conflicts between the use of biomass for food production and for industrial or energy production purposes.More Topics
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